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Unfortunately the Bujin shinai are no longer available. At least for the time being. Hopefully Aikido24 will have them in the near future since they now own Bujin. I have recently seen a pretty big selection of shinai and rubber bokken on Amazon.com

This is a "shinai", more specifically a "fukuro shinai" to distinguish it from "kendo shinai" which are uncovered.

They've been around for a long time (Yagyu Ryu and Maniwa Nen Ryu Kenjustsu, for example) but Saotome Sensei is fairly unique amingst Aikido teachers for his use of the shinai. The ones in the video are "yagyu" style and were made by Bu Jin Deisgn. Unfortuantely they are no longer available.

We get ours now from Tozando. Fukuro Shinai Not as solid as the old Bu Jin ones but adequate.

Just a word of caution... if used properly, shinai will last a long time. But if you are a "stick basher". you can literally destroy the bamboo in these in three or four days of incorrect practice.

Oohps. Searching for the terms "shinai suede cover" google points me that those were sold by Bujin Design (now closed). Bad news for me

Frankly, I always hated those things. The problem was that people would be less careful (because of the perceived "softness"), and you actually end up getting whacked a lot more often and more painfully than with a bokuto.

Frankly, I always hated those things. The problem was that people would be less careful (because of the perceived "softness"), and you actually end up getting whacked a lot more often and more painfully than with a bokuto.

Best,

Chris

Actually, that was precisely why I like them. Folks are scared of the bokken... scared of being hit and scared of hurting someone else. So folks too often don't really commit. They are putting the breaks on before they ever reached full commitment. What I liek about shinai is that the vast majority of folks are willing to actually hity you with the shinai while they won't with a bokken. So, especially when doing wepons taking but even in your paired forms, you get a much cleaner practice because people aren't mucking up the energy by pulling their attacks. I figure its my problem if I get hit... at least my partner is willing to really try with a shinai.

Actually, that was precisely why I like them. Folks are scared of the bokken... scared of being hit and scared of hurting someone else. So folks too often don't really commit. They are putting the breaks on before they ever reached full commitment. What I liek about shinai is that the vast majority of folks are willing to actually hity you with the shinai while they won't with a bokken. So, especially when doing wepons taking but even in your paired forms, you get a much cleaner practice because people aren't mucking up the energy by pulling their attacks. I figure its my problem if I get hit... at least my partner is willing to really try with a shinai.

Even those shinai are no joke if somebody really wallops you. We were doing a basic kata and someone got me with a yokumen--I don't know where my block was, but nowhere useful--and I was seeing stars for a minute or two. Hate to think what it would have been like if he'd had a bokken...